Readers speak out on intervention in Syria

Readers speak out on intervention in Syria

Readers speak out on intervention in Syria

The government is now telling us that we must attack Syria because Assad used chemical weapons. Ignoring for a second that there is no evidence suggesting that it was Assad who used chemical weapons and not the Islamist rebels, one is left wondering when the U.S. became so opposed to the use of chemical weapons. On March 16, 1988, Saddam Hussein (then a close American ally) used chemical weapons against Kurdish women and children, murdering thousands of innocent people. These chemical weapons were given to Saddam by the United States, the attack was coordinated using U.S. satellite imagery, and when the world discovered the attacks, America blamed Iran and forbade the U.N. from condemning Iraq. Let us also not forget the words of the great "champion of freedom" Winston Churchill, who justified the gassing of Iraqi women and children in 1919-20 by arguing that "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes." It is clear that the true reason our government wants to attack Syria is because they have a secular nationalist government that refuses to take orders from America.

Christopher Ryan Smith, Mills River

On Aug. 21, chemical weapons were used against the civilian population of Syria. President Obama is now asking our Congress for approval for limited military action against the Syrian government, to cripple their chemical weapon capability and to send a message to the rest of the world, that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. As reprehensible as the use of chemical weapons is, it is more important for Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, as well as Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, to represent constituents and vote against any military action in Syria.

I write to invite them to make a stand to show they believe that the United States of America should not function by itself as the world police. If these individuals vote for military action, I will do all in my power to organize and campaign to see that they no longer represent the state of North Carolina or the city of Asheville. In all too recent memory, a misinformed Colin Powell showed Congress a smoking gun which led to a nearly eight-year engagement (in Iraq in what was supposed to be a surgical strike). Please, do not let it happen again.

John Baugh, Swannanoa

As we prepare for another Iraq in Syria, perhaps we should consider why we didn't object when Syria bought the chemical weapons. If it's OK to own them then that means there must be somebody it's OK to use them on. As for punishing Assad for killing 1,400 Syrians, perhaps we should think about the 11,000 Americans we intentionally shoot dead every year. The Senate had a chance to do something about that earlier this year and the likes of Sens. McCain and Burr preferred to side with the criminals. Whatever the outcome in Syria, the Syrian people will wind up hating us and who knows - a new government there could be worse than the one they have now.

John Mycroft, Asheville

Why should the U.S. continue to be the policeman in the world? Let other countries step up to the plate and stop the killing in Syria. The neighboring countries, including Iran, should take more responsibility.

The global community should continue to pressure Russia to use its influence. Russia has extensive economic and military ties to Syria and could easily force the government to stop its genicide. Instead, Putin stopped the United Nations from being more proactive.

Maybe France and Germany should respond to the crisis. It is in their proximity of the world.

After the Iraq debacle the U.S. does not have the political capitol to plunge the world into another conflict. Our 17 trillion dollar debt forbids us to even consider the expense of bombing Syria.

Punitive strikes in the past have resulted in questionable results. It merely inflames our enemies. I admit that Assad's past killing of 100,000 citizens is criminal, and that the use of chemical weapons to destroy an additional 1,428 lives is insane.

However, in my opinion, it will take the continuing pressure of the whole world, not just the U.S., to change the tactics used by the Syrian government.

Calvin King, Arden

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Readers speak out on intervention in Syria

The government is now telling us that we must attack Syria because Assad used chemical weapons.